Starting 2013.1.1, only qualifying points count towards elite status
Dec 3, 2012, 4:47 pm
#46
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: RA Platinum, GoldpointsPlus Elite, HH Gold VIP, Sixt Platinum, *A Gold, TK ElitePlus, Marriott Gold
Posts: 183
I find this an improvement too given the benefits are also improved, with the hope that the lousy treatments to Platinums at some hotels will change after it becomes very public that qualification will get tougher.
Dec 3, 2012, 4:55 pm
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
I travel for leisure only and getting status is not easy when you don't have people sponsoring your stay.
The new perks are in Greater China only. I think I prefer PC the way it is.
Dec 3, 2012, 6:21 pm
#48
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 201
I find this to be an improvement. If one wants to get value for their status then it has to be tougher to achieve. Although, at an average of say 1,500 -2,000 points per night ($150-$200/night) it will take 30-40 nights before one achieves Platinum status, unless you carry a UK or US CC. The value of a potential moderate upgrade and 1beer/coke and internet ain't great when compared to other programs. However, buying gold status for $50 and getting free internet is pretty good for those who can't get the credit card or stay enough nights. No other program offers that value.
Dec 3, 2012, 7:00 pm
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
2. Hilton HHonors has a not-much-publicized-beyond-FT way of getting HHonors Gold for just 4 stays that doesn't involve a credit card and works AFAIK at the their properties worldwide.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilto...one-works.html
(And, btw, although the OP of that thread called it a "challenge", it is avilaalbe as soon as you've dropped to HH Silver, even if you were Gold or Diamond the preiovus month.)
And HHonors Gold gives you guarnateed free breakfast at all their properties worldwide and guarnateed unlimited-time free internet (though maybe only wifi or only wired) at all their properties worldwide.
(I don't know how the "free intenet" for PC elites in China actually works, but the "free internet" I've gotten as a PC Plat in Europe is all too often scratch off cards which either require logging out and logging back in to keep their cumulative time to stretch over your stay, or you have to keep going back and going back and going back for more cards.)
Dec 3, 2012, 7:05 pm
#50
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Shanghai and Bavaria
Programs: Spire RA, 1865 Voyager, Bonvoy Titanium, FB LP, LH SEN.
Posts: 3,104
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Free internet means free internet here. No restrictions, no scratch cards (that seems to be a UK thing, and UK is special in many ways...)
As I have said before, those benefits have been consistent here for a long time, so that I have even wondered whether there is some kind of guideline for hotels. Now it is published in writing.
Free internet means free internet here. No restrictions, no scratch cards (that seems to be a UK thing, and UK is special in many ways...)
As I have said before, those benefits have been consistent here for a long time, so that I have even wondered whether there is some kind of guideline for hotels. Now it is published in writing.
Dec 3, 2012, 7:39 pm
#51
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: UK
Programs: IHG Plat; CC Gold
Posts: 845
The scratch cards I have seen are where the internet time was bought and provided by a third party supplier, but this has usually been with other hotel chains.
Free internet as a plat is very rare over here.
Dec 4, 2012, 2:59 am
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,423
+1, wonder if they will roll it out globally. At least it appears that ANY stay as a plat gets free internet, including award stays (esp since they single out Ug's NOT eligible on award, but didn't mention internet)
+1
+1
Dec 4, 2012, 4:23 am
#55
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Japan
Programs: NH PLT+SFC(*G), JL JGC(OW Sapphire), IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 124
It looks like that the new "Elite Qualification Points" rule will be applied to all regions.
I saw the remark in membership levels' page:
https://secure.priorityclub.com/hote...mbershipLevels
But I couldn't find the details in T&C yet...
I saw the remark in membership levels' page:
https://secure.priorityclub.com/hote...mbershipLevels
Beginning January 1, 2013, for purposes of determining Elite Status, Priority Club points are classified as either Elite Qualifying Points or Non-Elite Qualifying Points. See full program Terms & Conditions for more information.
Dec 4, 2012, 9:59 am
#58
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: MOW
Programs: PC Plat/RA, LH SEN, FB Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 108
But why should we hope about benefits enhancements (sic!) as a
result?
Dec 4, 2012, 10:46 am
#59
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 1,314
) update various pages across their sites, but they haven't finished the updates yet - we should wait to see what the final version of the T&Cs look like.I hope we do end up with better benefits , although somehow I doubt it - if that was the case, there would be no need for a specific mention of additional benefits for China.
Alternatively, they could be waiting until 2014 when the number of Plats may drop and the cost of implementing the benefits will be lower - I suspect they hope that the new earnings rule will see many people who have requalified for next year drop down in twelve months.
In the end, this may all just be an unplanned reaction to the changes to the Hilton scheme, with IHG seeing an opportunity to change their rules at the same time but still wondering exactly how to do it.
Dec 4, 2012, 11:06 am
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
I do hope that they don't change anything since being able to 'buy' Plat is a very nice perk itself for IHG. Also their Plat perks are not recognised at ICs.
I'll have a hard time maintaining my status with more than 1 chain since I only travel for leisure, and the only IHG hotel close to me is a CP.
What about perks on award stays? Marriott doesn't distinguish and it's a strong perk for MR.
Also what are they going to do with the Amb programme? The fact is that at the moment free internet is a perk for RAs at ICs - what if all the Plats got it as well? (thanks ag51 for correcting me)
I'll have a hard time maintaining my status with more than 1 chain since I only travel for leisure, and the only IHG hotel close to me is a CP.
What about perks on award stays? Marriott doesn't distinguish and it's a strong perk for MR.
Also what are they going to do with the Amb programme? The fact is that at the moment free internet is a perk for RAs at ICs - what if all the Plats got it as well? (thanks ag51 for correcting me)
Last edited by nacho; Dec 4, 2012 at 12:08 pm